US2668023A - Tape winding - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1954 s. WHITSON ETAL TAPE WINDING 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29. 1947 Feb. 2, 1954 Filed 001:. 29, 1947 L. s. WHlTSON ET AL 2,668,023

TAPE- WINDING l2 Shets Sheet 2 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Invenfond Lee 5? Whitson, Math/'05 & Tome zz m:

flee/ward 6. Fer/aak, Jr.

47 Horne U f L. S. WHITSON ETAL TAPE WINDING Feb. 2, 1954 Filed Oct. 29, 194'? ll llllllllll Feb. 2, 1954 L. S. WHITSON ET AL TAPE WINDING Filed Oct. 29, 1947 l2 Sheets-Sheet 6 fnvenlorf! Lee .51 Wh/zson, Math/as 6. 7bmeaz -D Bernard &. Fer/flak, J/t

rney

1954 L. s. WHITSON ETAL 2,668,023

TAPE WINDING Filed Oct. 29, 1947 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 Feb. 2, 1954 L. s. wHrrsoN ETAL 2,563,023

TAPE WINDING Filed Oct. 29) 1947 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 lnveniara/ lee .5. Whizsoh,

fiarnard Fer/flak, Jr.

)4 Ziorney/ 1954 L. s. WHITSON ET AL 2,668,023

TAPE WINDING Filed Oct. 29, 1947 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 11422624 2014/ lee S Whitsan, Mmh/as & Tomezfz flernard & Fer/ac7/ ,Jn

Feb. 2, 1954 L. s. WHITSON ET AL 2,668,023

TAPE WINDING Filed Oct. 29, 1947 12 Sheets-Sheet 1O g 1/9 LW 1954 L. s. WHITSON ET AL TAPE WINDING l2 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed 001;. 29, 1947 111 en 207% lee SW/v/Zson, Mai/7M3 6. 7bmezz a [Bernard Q Fer/aa/r, Jr."

J4? Z0 r'ne yd Patented Feb. 2, 1954 TAPE WINDING Lee S. Whitson, Mathias G. Tometz, and Bernard G. Ferlaak, Jr., Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application October 29, 1947, Serial No. 782,744

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines for winding rolls of tape, particularly to machines for winding in succession a large number of rolls of relatively short lengths of tape from a relatively large supply thereof.

Prior machines known to us require manual mounting and positioning of the empty cores or spools and their manual removal after the short lengths of tape have been wound on, the machines having to be stopped for these operations after each Winding. This is costly in terms of manual time and effort and idle machine time.

Included, therefore, among the important objectives is the provision of a winding machine that is substantially fully automatic, requiring a minimum of manual attention and with a minimum of idle time; a machine that will operate at relatively high speeds; machine that will pro- The present invention provides a machine com-,

prising means for rotatably holding a tape roll core, means for holding a supply of tape, means for measuring the tape asit is withdrawn from the supply, means for releasably anchoring the leading end of a withdrawn unsevered length near the core holder, means for advancing the core holder to bring the periphery of the core into contact with the unsevered length, means for rotating the core to wind tape onto the core, and means for severing the tape adjacent the core after a measured length has been wound on.

It also provides means for feeding a succession of cores to the core holder, means associated with the holder for seizing a core that is fed to the holder, means for compensating for variance between the rate of feeding and the rate of winding and for maintaining an approximately uni form tension on the advanced unsevered length,

the trailing end of the cut length, means forwiping down the trailing end around the filled core, means for releasing the filled core from the holder, and means for discharging it into a suitable receptacle.

It also provides timingmechanism s, electricalcircuits and signals for rendering the operations a r 2 automatic and in proper sequence and for automatically coordinating the parts when starting the machine and for automatically stopping it when the stock roll is exhausted or when the tape breaks in winding and for counting the wound rolls exclusive of rejected rolls.

The invention is exemplified by a machine for automatically winding a succession of relatively short rolls of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape from a relatively large supply roll thereof, which is described below and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram in perspective of certain parts of the machine;

Figures 2 and 3 are'front and side elevations;

Figures 4 and 5 are side and rear elevations of the snub roll and automatic stop assembly;

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the measuring mechanism; 1

Figure 7 is a sectional 'view of the measuring mechanism taken on the line 1-1 in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the core supply chute and tabbing mechanism;

Figure 9 is a front elevation of the Winding mechanism;

Figure 10 is a chuck head;

Figures 11a, 11b,'11c, 11d and lie are diagrams showing successive positions of certain parts during the afiixing of the initial wrap of tape upon a core;

Figures 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d and 12e are diagrams showing successive positions of certain parts during winding, and during and after cutting;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a finished roll that has been wound by the illustrated machine;

Figures 14 and 15 are side and rear elevations of the cutting and wiping mechanism;

Figure 16 is a side elevation of the roll discharge chute;

Figure 17 is a diagram of the timing cams and. switches;

Figures 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d are diagrams showing the four successive combinations of the tally and indexing switches during the winding of two successive rolls;

Figure 19 is a wiring diagram;

Figure 20 is a side elevation of an alternative form of the dancing roll assembly;

Figures 21 and 22 are sectional views of an alternative form of chuck head employing overrunning clutches; and

Figures 23 and 24 are front and side elevations of an alternative form of chuck opening cams.

Tape supply The tape supply mechanism is supported by a frame 3 which extends upwardly from a table having a planar top I and legs 2. A drum 4 for right elevation of the right rolls 1' remains. plate 16 limits the counterclockwise movement of housing I9.

3 holding a supply roll R of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape T (which is the stock tape, i. e., the tape to be wound into small rohs); is rotatably mounted at the top and rear of the frame 3.

A snub roller 5 bears against the periphery .of

roller 5 (tacky side out) so that withdrawal of a the tape impels the arm 6 counterclockwise. A sudden increase in tension such as occurs during f periods of acceleration, displaces the roller 5 against the force of the spring ill, thereby preventing much of the increase from being a direct pull on the tape. The snubroller assembly thus functions as a shock absorber to aid in preventing breakage.

It also functions as an automatic stop to halt the machine when the supply roll is empty. A

pressure by the snub roller upwardly against the supply roll is maintained by a counterweighted cable 12 attached to the sliding block 8 and to a counterweight l3, and running over a suitable pulley l4. At the correct height, the block actuates a switch [5 tostop the machine when the supply roll IR. is nearly exhausted, e. g., when less than enough tapeto make up one of the small The slanting edge of a guide the arm 6 as the block 8 nears the top of its movement, to maintain a fixed relative position between theroller 5 and the blockwhen the latter is about to trip the switch [5.

' in the housing I3 that is attached to the upper forward portion of the frame 3.

The tally wheel (8 is driven at a peripheral .speed equal to the lineal speed of the tape by reason of the tapes temporary adherence to the wheels periphery. The wheel is demountably fixed to a shaft 2-0 which is journaled'on ball hearin s in the two oppositesides of the tally A worm 2i fixed to the'shaft drives a worm gear v22 having a hub 23 which fits freely on a sleeve 24, the latter being carried by a cam shaft 25 and fitting freely thereon. A pin 26 is screwed into the hub 23 and projects into a longitudinal slot 21 in'the sleeve 24 so that the sleeve can slide freely along the shaft 25 in relation to the worm gear 22 but cannot rotate in relation thereto. The shaft 25 is journaled on ball bearings in a side of the housing at its one end and atv its other end in a cam setting plate 28 which is. set into the opposite side.

The shaft 25 extends. outside the housing beyond the plate where. it. is. keyed for a knob 29.

The sleeve 24. carries. at its end a cone A coil spring 3.! between the cone and the worm having a roller contact point 35is. positioned so that during 180 of rotation of the cam 33, the

4 contact wheel 35 is depressed (as in Figure 6), while during the succeeding 180. it is allowed by the cam to raise to its normal position. When depressed it closes one circuit and opens the other; when raised it opens the one circuit and closes the other. The switch 34 controls the solenoids that operate the pull drum and winding clutches (ina manner hereinafter described) so that with a tally wheel [8 of a given circumference and a worm and worm wheel of a given ratio, a given length of tape will be fed and wound for every of turn of the cam 33. The cam 33 is in two parts 33a and 33b to permit the adjustmentor alteration of its periphery to the shape that will produce a desired timing of switch actuations.

The re-set knob 29 is keyed to the cam shaft 25 with a liding fit. It is impelled outwardly away from the housing by aspring 36. Shoulder pins 37 and 31' fit freely in two bores in the knob '180 apart. Springs 38-38 in the bores impel the pins toward the cam setting plate 28 which is set into the side or wall of the housing 19.

When the knob is pushed in towards the housing, either pin 31 or 31 will fit into an are shaped groove 33 that is cut in the plate 28 concentric with the knob and shaft 25. The groove is of such length that the knob may turn 180 when one of the pins it in it. Upon such turning, the worm gear 22 will remain fixed, being in mesh with the worm 2|, but the cone clutch 32 will slip and the cam 33 will be turned. The cam is set so that when the pin (31 or 31') that is in the are shaped groove 39 has been turned by the knob so as to bear against one end of the groove, one circuit in the switch 34 is made and the other broken, and vice versa when the same pin bears against the other end of the groove 180 away.

Thus, regardless of the position of the tally wheel IS, the tally mechanism can be set so as to operate a full cycle and pass a full length of tape simply by pushing the re-set knob 25 inwardly against the cam setting plate 23, turning it in the proper direction as far as it will go (i. (2., until one of the pins 31 or 31 bears against one end of'the groove) and then releasing the knob so that it may be thrustback out again by the spring 38. "The manner of determining the proper direction in which to turn the knob is described hereinafter in the section on Operation.

The housing 19 is held in the frame 3 by fastenings that permit its positional adjustment to align the tally wheel with the drum 4 and other parts.

From the tally wheel la the tape is next led around the periphery (tacky side in) of a power driven pull drum 42, passing first through an adjustable tape guide member 4|. The drum is power driven and supplies the force by which the tape is withdrawn from the supply roll R. A smaller secondary pull drum 43 Withdraws the tape from the main drum 42. The drums act to pull the tapeby reason of its temporary adherence to their peripheries. The peripheries of both drums are finned, and they are sulliciently close to each other so that their fins enmesh. The drums are fixed to shafts which are connected by gearing in the gear box 44 of a ratio to give the two drums'the same direction and peripheral speed. It is sometimes advantageous to rotate the seconddrum at a peripheral speed slightly greater than the first.

Theleft end (Figure 2) of the drum shaft 45 carries a. toothed clutch member 46. Facing the out of engagement with the member 46.

plate 46 is a complementary clutch'member 46 on the end of a shaft which is in line with the shaft 45. The shaft is continuously driven by a motor M through a variable speed changer 41, countershaft es and a chain 49. The hub of the clutch member 45 and the shaft 45 are splined so that the member 4% may be moved into and Such movement is accomplished by the solenoid 50 acting through the clutch fork 5|. member 46 is held by the fork spring Ela, in a normally disengaged position. It is moved into engagement by the solenoid when the latter is energized.

From the pull drums 82 and 53 the tape is next led around a dancing roller 52 (tacky side out) which is rotatably mounted at the end of a dancing arm 53. The arm is pivoted at 54 to swing between stops '55 and 55', the counterweight 56 acting to make the arm normally bear counterclockwise against the stop 55, the pull of the tape at the winding chucks acting to impel the arm clockwise toward the stop 55. The pull of the counterweight is preferably such as to keep the arm from touching either stop when tape is being moved through the machine, particularly during the winding of a roll, and sufficient to strip the tape from the second ull drum 43 as it is being drawn through the machine. Thus the dancing roll mechanism functions to maintain a substantially uniform tension on the tape between the pull drums and the winding chucks whenever it is being fed.

The lineal speed of the tape past the pull drums 42 and 43 is constant, but at the point of winding it increases from a speed slower than the drum speed to a speed faster than the drum speed, as the empty core that is being wound fills with tape. Consequently, during the course of a winding operation the dancing arm 53 swings from an initial starting position at or near the stop 55 toward the rear stop 55 and then forward again toward the front sto 55, the tension on the tape meanwhile remaining substantially uniform.

Thus the dancing roll mechanism functions also as a means for compensating for the speed variance between the portion of tape being fed past the pull drums and the advance portion being wound on an empty core.

If the tape breaks during winding, the dancing roll 52 is no longer restrained thereby so that the arm 53 is impelled by the counterweight 5G to swing clear back to the stop 55 at which point the counterweight actuates a switch 51 to stop the machine automatically. Thus the dancing roll additionally functions as an automatic means to stop the machine whenever the tape ceases to run as a continuous web between the pull drums and the winding chucks, e. g., whenit breaks.

From the dancing roll 52 the tape is next led around an idler roller 53 (tacky side in) and thence downwardly to the winding chucks, where the leading end is releasably anchored to the surface 59 by temporary adherence thereto.

Core supply The empty spools or cores C-l, C-Z, C-3, etc, on which the measured lengths of tape are to be wound, are delivered to the winding chucks through a supply chute $9 from an automatic hopper 6|.

The hopper is equipped with a ram 62 which moves up and down between guides 6363. The ram is fastened to one side of an endless chain 64 which is moved up and down by the oscillation The clutch of a lower sprocket 65, produced by a crank, rack and pinion assembly 66 that is driven by the motor M through a speed reduction unit 67.

The top of the ram carries a deep groove (52a slightly wider than the cores and of a depth approximately equal to their diameter. The groove is slanted at the same angle as the chute 60. The cores gravitate into the space between the guides, and when the ram comes up through the cores, some of them will align themselves in the groove on the ram. At the top of the stroke the groove becomes aligned with the chute whereupon the cores roll downwardly into the chute. At the lower forward end of the chute the leading core 0-! is releasably held by a lower lip member 68 and an upper spring member 68, in position to be seized and removed by the winding chucks (Figure 8).

Winding mechanism Tape core holders are provided in the present embodiment in the form of chucks. Two opposed chuck heads 69 and "Hi (Figure 9) are fixed on a common rotatable shaft H, facing each other in spaced relation. Two chucks 12 and 12' are rotatably mounted on the face of the head 69 in spaced relation to each other and to the heads axis (the axis of the shaft Tl), apart in respect to the said axis and equidistant therefrom. An opposed set of two chucks 13 and I3 are rotatably mounted on the face of the opposite head 10, each chuck forming with the opposite chuck a coaxial pair between which a core may be held by pressure of the pair toward each other, the axes of the chucks and of the heads being parallel.

The chucks 12 and T2 are each slidable towards and away from the opposed chucks l3 and I3 so as alternately to grip and to release a core, and are idler chucks. The chucks I3 and T3 are power driven and serve as the driving chucks that rotate a core so as to wind tape thereon.

In Figure 9 the pair 'l2'|3 are shown as being in the uppermost position which is the core receiving station, and the pair 12'--13 in the lowermost position which is the winding station. After a core held by the chucks 12'l3' has been filled, the heads 63 and I0 automatically turn or index in unison 180 so that the chucks l2-'l3 are then up at the core receiving station and the chucks 'l213 which were receiving a core while the core in 12-'I3 was being wound, are down at the winding station.

The faces of the idler chucks l2 and I2 carry cone shaped centering bosses 12a and 12a to fit into the hole of a core and align it axially. The faces of the driving chucks I3 and 13' are of rubber.

The idler chuck I2 is fixed to a horizontal shaft 14. The shaft M is journaled in a housing 75 so that it can rotate but not slide axially therein. The housing 15 is keyed within the head 69 'so that it can slide axially but not rotate therein. A spring 16 impels the housing 75 and with it the shaft I4 and chuck 72 towards the opposite chuck l3 sufficiently to hold a core between the chucks and cause the rotationa1 impulse of the driving chuck 13 to be imparted to the core by the frictional contact between them. In other words, the chucks 12-13 are closed by the spring 16.

They are opened by an arcuate cam 17, which, as the heads 69 and 10 rotate counterclockwise, engages a small'cam'rider 18 that is rotatably mounted, near the left end of the housing 15,

thereby moving thehousing leftwardly against the spring 16 and holding it there as long as the roller 18 rides along the left surface of the cam (Figures 1 and 9). The cam- 11 is held in position by a sleeve Tia which is fixed to the framework of the machine coaxially with the chuck head shaft 1 i.

The cam first engages the rider to open the chucks and release the core that has just been filled about after a pair of chucks leave the winding position. The cam continues to be in engagement until after the same pair of chucks reach the core receiving station, whereupon it disengages to permit the chucks to be closed by the spring and to seize the empty core Cl thatv is being releasably held by the core-holding members 68 and 68 at the delivery end of the core chute 60 (Figure 8).

The chuck 72 has parts corresponding to those of the chuck 12 described above including a cam rider corresponding to the rider 78, which, in alternation with #8, is engaged by the same arouate cam Tl as the heads 69 and 10 turn.

The driving chuck I3 is fixed on a shaft 88 which is journaled in the chuck head 10 in line with the shaft '14. The chuck 73' is .similarly mounted on a shaft 86'. Clutch members SI and 8! are fixed on the right ends of the chuck shafts 86 and 89' respectively. A complementary driving clutch 82 is positioned to engage each of the clutches 8i and 81' successively when they stop in the winding position, thereby to spin the core then being held by the corresponding chucks. The driving clutch 82 is mounted on a rotatably mounted shaft 83 which is continuously driven from the main power shaft 38 by a chain drive 84. The hub of the clutch 82 and the shaft 83 are splined so that the driving clutch 82 may be moved into and out of engagement with the chuck clutch 8| (or 8!). This movement is accomplished by a solenoid 85 which operates through a clutch fork 86. The clutch 82 is held by the fork spring in a normally disengaged position. It is moved into engagement by the solenoid when the latter is energized.

In order to hold a core fixed against rotation about its own axis during a certain period, toothed wheels such as the gears 88 and 88' are fixed on the driving chuck shafts 8B and 88, respectively, and pawls 89 and 89 are pivotally mounted on the head 10 in position to engage the teeth of the gears. Spring members 90 and 99 normally impel the pawls into tooth engaging position thereby holding the shafts 89 and 88' fixed against rotation in either direction, but for a certain distance a cam 9| engages the adjacent pawl (89 or 89) as the chuck heads rotate, so as to withdraw that pawl from engagement with its gear and render the corresponding shaft, chuck and tape core free to rotate about their own'axes in either direction (as illustrated by the pawl 89 in Figure 10).

The cam 9| first engages the pawl 89' when the parts are approximately at the position of Figure 110. Prior thereto the core is held fixed so as to wrap the tape about itself as it moves downwardly from the position of Figure 11a. But at the approximate position of Figure 11c it is rendered free to turn, whereupon it slowly turns clockwise about its own axis due to the backward pull of the now stationary tape that occurs as the core continues to move downwardly, thereby striping the tape from its anchorage 59 and then wiping down the leading end of the tape by contact with the stationary tape wiping member 92 as the core moves past it, to form the initial wrap of tape about the core, smooth, undouble and unwrinkled (Figure 11d).

Immediately thereafter the heads come to rest with the core to which the leading end of the tape has just been adhered and which is held by the chuck I2, at the winding station (Figure lle). The cam 9| continues to hold the pawl 39 out of engagement at this point so that the core may spin and thereby wind the tape T upon itself when the clutch 82 engages the clutch 81'.

After the desired length has been wound on and severed and the clutch 82 has disengaged, the chuck heads 69 and 10 begin to turn through the next cycle, but the cam 9i continues to engage the pawl 89' and hold the core free to spin 'until'the periphery of the clutch head 8| has,

in passing, made a brief tangential contact with the rubber periphery of a continuously rotating spinner wheel 93, after which the cam 9i ceases to engage the pawl 89'.

The clutch head Bl being the part of the core holding assembly through which the chucks are normally driven, this contact between it and the spinner wheel 93 has the effect of causing the filled core to spin momentarily in a counterclockwise direction. A movable wiping member 94 (hereinafter described) being then in contact with the periphery of the wound roll (the filled core), this spin has the effect of sealing down smoothly the trailing end of the cut length of tape that has just been Wound on the core (Figure 12d).

Referring now to Figures 3 and 10, the spinner wheel 93 is fixed on a shaft 95 that is journaled in an arm 98. The arm pivots about a shaft 9? which is journaled in an upright frame member 98. An upright threaded stud 99 passes through an opening in the arm. A spring I06 on the stud bears downwardly against the top of the left end of the arm 96 and thereby impels the spinner wheel 93 into contact with the clutch head 8|, the movement being limited to a desired distance by lock nuts positioned below the arm. The shaft 91 carries on its right end a sprocket that is driven by one side of the same chain 84 that drives the core driving clutch 82, and the shaft 95 is driven by the shaft 9'! through gears I91.

Tabbz'ng mechanism The mechanism for providing a removal tab t-l at the trailing end of a length of tape that has been wound on a core, to facilitate ready removal of the tape by a user (Figure 13), comprises guide means in the form of an elongate passageway or channel I03 which extends forwardly to a point between the chuck heads 59 and It where it curves down over the chuck head shaft II. The non-adhesive tabbing tape t is withdrawn from a supply roll R thereof and propelled through the channel by a rubber idler roller 34 above the tape and a rubber driving roller I05 below the tape, which project into the tape channel to press against each other with the tape t between them. A solenoid Hi5, acting through a reciprocating sliding arm It? and pawl and ratchet H38, rotates the roller I95 counterclockwise to advance the tape the dis tance of one ratchet notch. A spring 509 returns the arm IO! and the pawl to their normal position (Figure 8) when the solenoid is deenergized.

The said advancement of the tabbing tape t 9. causes it to advance beyond the forward end of the channel I03 until its leading end extends downwardly to a point in front of the stationary wiper 92 and behind the web of the adhesive tape T that is then being wound, adjacent the tacky side of the latter (Figure 12a). When the winding stops and a knife III moves in to cut the tape T, a sealing pad II2 which is carried on the knife assembly, contacts the non-tacky side of the adhesive tape slightly in advance of the knife and presses its tacky side against the back up plate and tape-anchoring surface 59 on the nose of the tabbing tape channel. The stock tape T and the tabbing tape t are then closely adjacent, forming substantially a double web for the distance that the tabbing tape t extends below the lower end of the surface 59 (Figure 121)). The knife then severe the two tapes by coacting with a shear block H3. The knife continues to move thereafter for a short distance past the shear into a recess I I 3a to press the tapes against the tab wiping member 92 to insure a contact between the newly severed length t-I of tabbing tapea'nd the tacky side of the adhesive tape T (Figure 12c). The core on the chuck I2 will then have the trailing end of the severed length of tape that has just been wound thereon, provided with a tab t-I adhered thereto as shown on the roll r-I in Fig. 13.

Cutting mechanism Two sleeves H4 and H5 which rotate freely on a rigid shaft I I 6, carry a tape cutting assembly and a wiping assembly, respectively (Figures 14 and 15).

A knife arm H1 and a link II8 are fixed to the sleeve II4. A solenoid H9, acting through the link H8, impels the cutting assembly clockwise around the shaft II6 to .the limit of its cutting stroke (Figure 120). A spring I impels it counterclockwise to a point where the winding chucks will clear it when the chuck heads index (Figure 12c).

The knife III is fastened to a knife holding plate I2I with the knife edge at an angle to horizontal and to vertical planes determined by the cutting edge of the shear block I I3. The plate is pivotally held at I22 to the top of the knife arm II'I, with a spring I23 bearing against its outer end. These factors provide a tight point by point shearing contact between the knife and the shear across the full width of the tape. 1

The sealing pad H2 is mounted on the top of an arm I25 which is pivotally mounted on the knife arm II'I. A spring I26 impels the arm I25 forward to such a point that the pad I I2 is normally positioned in advance of the knife so as to anchor the tape to the surface 59 before the tape is cut, as shown in Figure 12b.

A spring-holding arm I21 is fixed to the sleeve H5, and a movable wiper or finger 94 is pivoted on the spring arm. A spring I29 carried by the spring arm I2'I impels the. wiping finger 94, clockwise away from the spring arm into contact with the r011 that is being spun by the spinner wheel 93 in the position shown in'Figure 1211, to press down the trailing'end of the severed length of tape that has just been wound thereon. The wiping assembly is impelled counterclockwise around the shaft I IE to wherethe winding chucks will clear it when the chuck heads index (Figure 12c) by the cutting assembly through a rubber button I30 on the knife arm II! which bears against the top of the spring arm I21 when the cutting assembly executes its .above, described 10' counterclockwise movement around the. same shaft H6.

From the full open position (shown in Figure 12c) the wiping and cutting assemblies are returned to their normal or operating positions (shown in Figure by a cam roller I3I (or I3I') carried by the chuck head 70. After the chucks have cleared the said assemblies, the cam roller I3I (or I3I') bears upon a cam I32 which is on the wiping assembly sleeve H5 therebyro tating the wiping assembly a short distance clockwise. The movement is transmitted to the cutting assembly through the button I30 against which the top of the spring arm I2'I bears as the wiping assembly turns. When the indexing movement stops, the cam roller I3I (or I3I') still engages the cam I32, thereby holdingthe wiping and cutting assemblies against the force of the spring I20 in the desired operating position shown in Figure 12a. After the core is wound the solenoid H9 is energized, thereby impelling the knife to execute its cutting stroke (Figures 120 and 14), and it remains energized until after the roll has been spun by the spinner wheel 93 (Figure 12d). I

Figures He and 12a represent the same instant in a cycle.

Roll disposal and counting Filled cores or rolls, upon their release from the chucks, fall by gravity. They are assisted in this by pressure of the wiping member 94 so that the latter also functions as an ejector, but removal of the rolls may be by gravity alone and the ejecting action of the finger 94 may be dispensed with. From the chucks, the rolls fall through a jointed vertical chute I33 into a suitable container (Figure 16). A push-pull handle I33a connected to the jointed outlet of the chute, permits the deflection of occasional rejected rolls. The number of rolls is ascertained by counting the number of cycles of the machine. For con venience these are recorded by a counter I34 (Figure 3) which is connected into the circuit of the tabbing solenoid I06. Deflection of a re ject by pulling the handle I33a actuates a cut out switch I35 in the counter circuit. The succeeding cycle then goes uncounted. Rejected rolls are thus not included in the number ultimately registered by the counter.

Indexing mechanism After the core C-I has been Wound. the chuck heads 69 and I0 index or turn in unison to bring the opposite pair of chucks, which have in the meantime seized the empty core 0-2 from the core positioners 08 and 60', into winding position. This is accomplished by rotating the shaft II one half turn.

The rotating impulse comes from the continuously running counter shaft 40 through a variable speed changer I35, a speed reducer I31, an overload clutch I38, a Geneva movement having driving and driven wheels I39 and I40, respectively, and two spur gears MI and I42 of one. to two ratio, the smaller gear I42 being on the chuck head shaft II (Figure 1). The driving Geneva wheel I39 normally has a single driving pin or roller I43 (Figure 3). It will be seen that during 90 of rotation of the Geneva driver shaft I44. the chuck head shaft lI will rotate or index 180, and during the remaining 270 of rotation of the shaft I44, the chuck head shaft "H is locked motionless by the Geneva movement during the dwell of the latter. The shaft I44 runs continuously. j

Timing mechanism a. mi g-cam; than Made ven. by. t ha t la-a d; at th ame pee h queli ere sears. (Fi ures 1 and a e nd r urpet 2am hah 51 driven hr. he ,1 33". .9; and. eh a hes eed hmueh spur sear L 2.

Thef pe shaf car s eer ams. .4. .5 1. n fiwh e actuate. our. swi ches. L553; ..-'ie.. -and. J espec iv 1a The ow Sheila.- ahaqaii i s our ams. 5?. and 8..- which ctu e Qm i 1?QhQS 5.5;. 5.6'& 151:. and I58, respectively. The two sets oiyca ns and wit hesareduplicates.of.. ach,cth r. e cents h the upper set of cams turns at hali;;the speed1 of the lowenset. When.the, Geneya driver I39 carries but the one ro11er"'I'43 as in the illustratedmachine, the .uppenset .of switchesris-used andthe lower set is disconnected. When a Geneva driver .is substituted thatvcarries tw crollers thelower. set-is then used and theuppersetdisconnected.

The-switch I55 is asingle pole doublethrowswitch. It' energizes the solenoids 50 and .85 which engage the pull drum clutch 46' and. the winding clutch 82,- respectively. The cam I45 is shaped so that for 180 of rotation of its shaft l5lf'one set of contacts of the single pole double throw switch I55 is made and the other broken and-vice versa for the otherlBO The cam I45 isset' so that theswitch- I55-trips when the roller I43 is just leaving onefof the radial grooves of the driven Geneva wheel I 40; and indexing of the chuck heads i completed.

The'switch I56 is a single pole singlethrow switch. When it isfopen; the said; solenoids ,5; and 85 are thereby de energizedi and the, pull drum and winding clutches 45 and82- disengaged. The cam I46 isshapedso that the switch I56 is open during the time the roller. I 43 engaged with "onset, the slots'of the driven Geneva wheel I4Iljandthe chuck heads 69 and I0 are indexing or tulfr'line.

The switch I5! .is asingle pole single thrpw. switch; It actuates the knife solenoid I I9. The ca'in I41 is shaped so that the switch. I 51. is closed. when,the roller. I43 is within approximately of. engaginga slot in the.driveri/Genevawheel I40 and kept closed until'about 10 of turn after such. engagement, i. e., after indexing begins.-

The, switch I58 is a singlepoles'ingleswitch. It energizes the tabbing tapefsolenoid I06; The cam I48 is shaped'softhatthe switch is' cl osed when. the roller- I43 has indexed the chuck heads about 1603, and .openedjustbe fore the indemnglis completed.

At the moment. indexing completed, contact Aofthe indexing switch I55 close andcontacts Bopen... Since contacts. A of. the tally switch 34. are. closed. the .pull drum and winding solenoids 50 .and 85 are. energized and tape is wound-onthe core .C-I (Figure 18a).

After a predetermined length of tape has passed 1 2 over: the. tally wheel .18: and the cam 33 has: roe tated. 180i, contacts. A of: tally switch 3.4 openand: contactsliclose but since the contacts of the indexingswitch I55remain the same, the solenoid circuit. is broken and winding ceases (Figure. 18

After the wound roll has been cut and tabbed, indexing again occurs. At the moment indexing is completed, contactsA of the indexing switch: I55-open and. contacts B: close. Since contacts B: of thetally switch 34 are closedgthe pull drumand winding solenoids. 50- and are again energized and: tape. is wound upon the core C--2 (Figure After the same predetermined measurement of tape haspassed over the=tally wheel I8 and the cam33has rotated-180; contacts B of the tally switch 34501381). and. contacts-A close but since the contacts of the. indexing. switch I55 remain thesame, the. solenoid circuit is broken and winding ceases (Figure 18d).

The cam I45 that operates the indexing switch IE5. is. drivencontinuously and the cyclecontinues. to repeataitself.

Circuits,

There are threeprincipal circuits (Figure. 19).. One isa power circuit. comiecting themotorM through a, motor..starter; I 60; and amain switch I'IIJ with a power. line. The. -Se cond is an indicater circuit, shown in heavy lines in Figure 19 and.- including. an. indicator light I'I'I, to show thestatus. of'the. solenoid: switches. The third is a. solenoid circuit. A push button I12 and a pilot light I13 are common both to'the power and the. solenoid circuits.- All the circuits are energized-from the: one power line and all are connected-and disconnected therefrom by the mainswitch I10.

Operation Before starting themachineiollowinga break in the tape or the insertion. of a fresh supply r011 R, in order to,have. the. first roll a fullcroll the-tally mustx first be reset'at zero. (after-re.-. threading the machine) by pushingin and turning the :knob. 29- as faras it will goandth'enreleasing .it, as described hereinabovein the section on Tape. Supply. The direction of its turn; however, will: depend on. the .position of the tally and indexingswitches-fi l and I55.- Whether the. machine is threaded for-a start :by adhering the leading. end of thetape to the anchoring surface 59 asshown-ini'igurella, or -to the emptycore that. is in the upper chuck (chuck- I2 in- Figure 11a), indexing mustoccurbefore winding begins in order to bringthe core into winding; position (Figurelle). To accomplish this. thesw-itches- 34 and I 55 must be in the posit-ions of FigureslSb or .18d .when the machine starts.-

To: ascertain theposition of the switches, the main1switch= H0 is: thrown to the indicator circuit (shown. in. heavy -lines-in -Figure- 19). If 'the switchesfid and. Ifiiitarees .ins'Figures 18a or-.18c theindicatord'l! willzlight. Ii. the knob- 29"is then pushed in and. turned. clockwise. (the .directicnof; turn I of; the tal1y::cam:.33, :in operation). as: far as itzwilhgc,theswitchfltivill Ice-thereby. reversed so that the .switches 34 and I55: will then be..in their proper startingpositions as shown in Figure 181). or 18d; Butif-they are already in the said starting. position; theindicator- I1 I will not light, and-they willbeleft thatway if the tally'is resethyturning the-knob counter-icloekwisei Afteehavingthus reset themachina-the-main switch IIII is thrown to connect the power line with the power and solenoid circuits. The pilot light I13 burns as long as the main switch I remains in this position. The starter button I12 is then pressed to energize the magnetic motor starter I 69, thereby starting the motor M.

In changing from one length of tape to another, the speed of the indexing mechanism is adjusted by the variable speed changer I36 to make the dwell of the Geneva movement slightly greater than the time required to wind and cut the proposed length of tape at the speed for which the winding mechanism is then set. Thereafter the speed of the entire mechanism is adjusted by the variable speed changer 41 so as preferably to produce an approximate indexing time of one second. Greater or lesser speeds may be employed but an indexing time of one second or more is preferable in the particular machine here illustrated. For example, if 106" or 120" rolls are to be wound, after adjusting the time of the Geneva dwell (using a two pin Geneva driver) if the lineal speed of the tape is adjusted by the speed changer ll to approximately I63 yards per minute, the indexing time will be approximately one second.

Alternatives Numerous alternatives and equivalents will be apparent, all within the scope of the claimed invention. For example, the dancing roll assembly may be as in Figure which shows a dancing roll I75 rotatably mounted on the side of a sliding block IIB which reciprocates in horizontal guideways III, its reciprocal movement being limited in either direction by stops I18 and I13. The block is impelled rearwardly against the pull of the tape T by a cable I I9 that passes over a pulley I88, with one end attached to the block and the other to a counterweight IBI.

A pointer I83 (Figure 2) on the reset tally knob 29 with suitable calibrations on the wall of the tally housing I9 to show the two zero points, may be substituted for the pins 3! and 3'! and the arcuate slot 39 which are shown in Figure 7 as the illustrated means for resetting the cam 33 to either of its two starting or zero points.

As an alternative for the gears 88 and 83' and the pawls 89 and 89 for holding an empty ccre fixed when the initial wrap is being put on (Figures 10 and 11b), overrunning clutches may be inserted in each of the chuck shafts 80 and 82. Such a construction is shown in Figures 21 and 22. The core chuck I3 is prevented from independent turning in one direction by the overrunning clutch I3! and in the other direction by the overrunning clutch I88. The desired counter clockwise turning (winding direction) of the chuck by force of the clutch member 8| when the latter is engaged by the previously described driving clutch $2, is permitted by a dog I89. The dog is screwed into the back of the clutch member M and has ears I890. which extend into the overrunning clutch and around the rollers I 98. Upon counter clockwise rotation of the clutch member 8| and dog I39, the ears push the rollers I!!!) out of their wedged position, thus throwing out the overrunning clutch. At the same time the ears I 89a bear against the member ISI so as to drive the shaft 88 and with it the core chuck I3 in the desired winding direction (counterclockwise).

In order to free a core for the brief period of clockwise turn necessary to wipe down the initial wrap (as shown in Figure 11d and as hereinabove described) when the overrunning clutch mechanism of Figures 21 and 22 is employed, a second core-opening cam I 92 in addition to themain core-opening cam I1, is fixed to the inside of the cam-holding sleeve 11a in the approximate position indicated in Figures 23 and 24. The main cam 11 is of a thickness sufficient to open the core chucks far enough to receive or to drop a core. The second cam I92 is thick enough only to loosen the grip of the chucks on a core sufficient to allow the core to rotate within the chucks.

The tabbing mechanism may be actuated by mechanical contact during indexing as an alternative to the solenoid.

The tally wheel I8 here shown as contacting the tape before the latter reaches the pull drums, may instead be positioned after the drums if desired. Likewise the position of the guide 4I may also be changed, or additional guides be placedchucks 69 and III to fit the wider or the narrower tape, as the case may be, there being a similar changeable bushing in the chuck I3. Machines may be constructed to wind tape in widths varying from A, to at least 6".

The illustrated machine has cut and wound tapes of and widths into rolls 216", 300" and 360" in length. The minimum length would be approximately one wrap, e. g., approximately 4 on a 11% diameter core. The maximum length would depend on the maximum finished roll diameter for which the parts of the machine provide clearance. In the illustrated machine this is 1%". This would allow a 360" length roll of transparent cellulose pressure-sensitive adhesive tape on a h diameter core. Machines of this invention may be constructed to wind rolls of any length although their greatest efiiciency is in winding rolls of relatively short lengths, e. g., up to approximately 792 inches.

In the illustrated machine, 100", 120", 180, 216", 300" and 360" rolls are normally wound at the rate of 32, 2'7, 24, 22, 19 and 16 per minute, respectively. These rates, however, may be increased if desired. For example, 100" rolls have been wound at rates up to 54 rolls per minute for short periods of time. 7

The illustrated core holders or chucks are designed to hold cardboard cores of 1%" outside diameter and 1" inside diameter. In opening, each pair of chucks spreads or separates about A" (in response to the cam 11) to admit or to drop out a core. Obviously the cores may vary widely both as to material, size and design, with corresponding variations in the design and type of the core holding means. The term core is intended to include spools, spindles, discs, cylinders or any element around which tape may be wound to form a roll thereof.

The size of the stock rolls may vary widely {500 to 1500 yard stock rolls have been used.

It will be seen that the present invention provides machines which produce rolls at a speed relatively high in comparison with prior ma chines, and which, after being threaded and aeoaocs started, are substantially fully automatic and equipped with safety switches to stop the machine. in the event of tape breakage or exhaustion of the tape supply, so that the process may be carried out with a minimum of manual attention, enabling one operator to attend. to two or more machines at once.

We claim:

1. A tape winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a tape roll core, means for holding a supply of tape, means for measuring the tape as it is withdrawn from the supply, means for releasably anchoring the leading end of a withdrawn unsevered length in a fixed position near the core holder, means for advancing the core holder to bring the periphery of the core into contact with the unsevered length at a point removed from the point of anchorage, means for rotating the core to wind tape onto the core, and means for severing the tape adjacent the core after a measured length has been wound on.

2. A tape winding machine comprising means for rotatably holding a tape roll core, means for feeding a succession of empty cores to the core holder, means for holding a supply of tape, means for withdrawing and advancing an uncovered length of tape toward the core holder, means for measuring the amount of tape that is advanced, means for releasably anchoring the leading end of the advanced unsevered length near the core holder, means for compensating for variance between the rate of feeding and the rate of winding and for maintaining an approximately uniformtension on the advanced unsevered length, means for advancing the core holderto bring the periphery of the core into contact with the advanced unsevered length at a point onthe tape near theanchored end, means for holding the core fixedagainst rotation fora period during its continued advancement after contact with the tape, wiping means which the core engages as it continues toadvance to wipe the leading end of the-tape down around the cores periphery, means for rotating the core to wind tape onto the core, means for stopping the rotation when a measured length has been wound on, means for bringing the succeeding unsevered length of tape into engagement with the anchoring means, means for severingthe tape between the anchoring means and the core, means for applying a tab to the trailing end: of the cut length, meansfor wiping down the trailing end around the filled core, and means for releasing-the filled core from the holder;

3. In a machine for winding lengths of tape from a Supply thereof onto a succession of cores,

a winding mechanism comprising acore holder mounted for rotation about its own axis, means for advancing the holder from a core receiving station along a path to a winding station, meansfor releasably anchoring the leading end of a withdrawn lengthof tape with thetape extending across the said path, means for rendering the holder fixed against rotation for a period during its said advancement after a core held thereby has contacted'the tape; means for rendering the holder -free to rotate for alater period during the advancement, a wiping member positioned to be contacted by theperiphery ofa core held byt-he holder during the said later period, and means for-rotating the holder after it has arrived at the winding station to wind the tape on the heldcore; 4; The mechanism of claim 3 in which the means fOrre-nderingthe holder fixedagainst-rotationfor'a period and thereafterfree to rotate comprises a toothed. wheel connected with" the holder and rotating therewith, a pawl for engag'-- ing the teeth, a spring means for holding the pawl normally engaged and a cam means positioned to move the pawl out of engagement upon contact of the pawl and cam during the advancement of the core holder along the said path.

5. The mechanism of claim 3 in which the core holder comprises a driving chuck mounted at one end of a shaft and a clutch member at the other, an idler chuck opposed to the driving chuck and coaxial therewith, the idler chuck being slidably mounted for reciprocal axial movement, spring means for impelling the idler chuck toward the driving chuck to hold a core between them; and in which the means for rendering the core holder fixed against rotation comprises two opposite overrunning clutches between the driving chuck and the clutch member with means on the clutch member for disengaging one overrunning clutch upon rotation of the clutch member in winding direction; and with a means for rendering a core free to rotate for a period during the said advanoement comprising a cam for drawing the idler chuck against the spring away from the driving chuck a distance sufficient to loosen the core within the chucks.

6. The mechanism of claim 3 with means for stopping the rotation after a length of the stock tape has been wound on, and means for afiixing a tab to the stock tape comprising means for holding a supply of tabbing tape, means for withdrawing and advancing a length thereof toward the unsevered stock tape, guide means for conducting the said length into a position adjacent the stock tape at the point of severance, and means for severing the two tapes.

7. In a machine for winding lengths of stock tape from a supply thereof onto a succession of cores having a core holder and a winding station, a tabbing mechanism comprising means for holding a supply of tabbing tape, means for intermittently withdrawing and advancing a relatively short length thereof toward the unsevered stock tape, a severing means in front of the said unsevered stock tape, a coacting severing means in the rear of the said stock tape, a tab wiping membcr adjacent the coasting severing means, guide means for conducting the advanced length of tab'oing tape to a position between the stock tape I and the said coacting severing means, and means for moving the severing means rearwardly to a point beyond the ooacting severing means to sever the two tapes and press them against the tab wipmg member.

8. The mechanism of claim '7 in which the means for intermittent advancement of the tabbing tape is actuated by a solenoid. I

9. In a machine for winding lengths of tape from a supply thereof onto a succession of cores, 2, cutting and wiping mechanism comprising a knife arm pivotally mounted for oscillation toward and away from the tape, a wiping spring arm adjacent the knife arm pivotally mounted for oscillation toward and away from a wound roll of tape, a wiping member pivotally mounted on the spring arm for oscillation toward and away from the said roll, cam means for moving the spring arm about its pivot towards the roll into operatmg position, the said cam means serving also to holdthearin in the said position during its operation, a connection between the two arms for transmitting to the knife arm the movement of the spring arm into operating position, and a spr ng meanson the spring arm for impelling the wiping member intocontact with the wound roll

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